Spring assembly machine



May 14,1946. v 3. TLLLION 2,400,319

' v SPRING ASSEMBLY MACHINE Filed Oct, 19, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l G Y.

May 14, 1946. v C; TALLIQN 2,400,319

SPRING ASSEMBLY MACHINE I' Filed oct. 19, 1944 v 2 sheets-sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

CHARLES TN \oN Patented May 14, 194eY l Charles Tallion,-Detroit, lMich., assignor-to Eaton vManufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a

" corporation of .'Ohioy .Application 'canberra 1944, serial No. 55.9,468

fpficlaiins; (o1. 14o-fri) This invention relates to .contractile Aor ygarter springs andmore particular-ly to mechanism Vfor the assembly thereof. 1 i

Broadly', theinvention comprehends a machine for automatically assembling garter springs, that is the joiningor screwing together ofthe-respective endso'f `an extension springfto thusfform' a Circular-unit. l' Y Heretofore theassembly of contractile -or garter.l y

springs'has been --done W'ho-llyby hand with the result that thesp'eed of assembly v'has ibeenj limited to humanism-11fand-endurane. This methodnof assembly hasexisted sinceithe inception 'ofthe manufacture of garterisprings'for alacloffbetter methods rof assembly. The `present ,invention through its automaticmechanical nature .of operation eliminatesthehuman element upon which the` assembly of garter springs Wa,si"heretoforeV dependent.

for automatically asserribling gartersprings.

Another object offtheinvention nifsjto :prOyfide' a machine adapted to Ysubs'tantia'lly j simulate human motion in the assembly -.of garter sprin-g'sa .Another object .of the .inyention is to provide means for efliciently and economically assembling garter springs. Y

.A `i'urther'objeet of the inventionfis to Iprovide means for automatically joining the ,oppositeV ends Vof an extension spring together havingre spectivemale and .female ends to thereby-form a garter spring. v

And yet 7.a further object of :the invention is the provision of agmachine having ;parts oper*- ated in timed sequencenecessary to the joining of the voppositeerrds of -a closely bound coil oi sprigwire together t'o'lthus form a .garter spring.

A lstill further object fof*V the Vinvention is to provide'a;machine for ,z'fasteningthe two ends of a closely wound` 'extension rcoil spring together wherein lthe 'spring'.has `a :male :end .and Ya Yfemale end comprising twisting 'one end ofthe spring while holding the. other end firm; and then Ainsert-l Figure -2 is a top planl view of the machine illus-v trating the horizontalrswezep lof the-spring Vcarrying arm;

vFigure Bis a side View of Figure z'illustrating ie vertical movement of the arm; r

'Figure4 is anfenlargedview `of the spring clutch incorporated in the machine;

` Figure 5 isa side `View ofFigure 4;

Figure 6 is Ta 1'partial plan lView of a closely Wound coil spring, illustrating lthe male and female ends thereof and Figure '7 isa partial plan vieWrof `the spring shown by Figure 6in assembled 'form. e

In the assembly of contractile or fgarter springs" wherein 4an 'original extension spring has a male end and a 'female end, A'one end is required to be twisted-through a numberof revolutions (dependingy upon Ythe 'length ofV the `spring and .diameter o f Vthe lspring Wire)v While the rother end is held firmly. Then the ends fare 'brought together, 'the female vend";being 'received "by the other end and the Ytwisted end turnedback to approximately 'itsnormal alignment with the .rest of the spring. During the reverse Vtwisting of the end of the kspringythat Wastwisted, Jshemale end threads ,into the jfemale end of the spring and thus holds thelspring together as a circular unit, this unit ,bearing 'the Well knownname garter spring. v

In the previoushand assembly method of garter springs manyfactors oi' vinefficiency Yyizere'present such as; necessity of instruction to individuals in the art of assembly, .the period of time for the individual'toattain maximum efficiency, Yand the further factorofhuman endurance and fatigue. The worth and r.magnitude .of the yinstant inVention is reflected from the fact'that the assembly of garter springs by hand has been continuous since the rst production of garter springs dating back abouttwenty years. Y

It 'was necessary in the constructionr of the f present machine to translate into mechanicsl Y the method Vby which. garter springs were assembled by hand. In the translation of `motion from hand `to machine assembly, it was necessary to provide feed means, positioning means, assembly control means, and power transmission means. y Y f The feed mechanism consists of La-hopper and delivery means incorporated therewith for -delivering one spring at a time to the machine in accordance with the speedof the! assembly mechanism, said feed mechanism aclapteolrtc be synchronized VWiththe machinevas awhole. The positioning mechanism comprises means associated with the third means having Ylateral movement for carrying the free end of the spring to assembly position.

The assembly control means consists of a clutch having a spring pressed javv incorporated therein.

This clutch is connected to suitable actuating mechanism providing for limited rotation of the clutch, said spring pressed jaw operating to hold one end of the spring in the clutch so that the spring end is held rmly while the rotation of the clutch in one direction provides the spring with the proper twist and a reverse motion thereof assists in threading the respective ends of the spring together. The rotation of the clutch together with the spring pressed jaw for clamping the spring end therein are synchronized.

'I'he power transmission means herein disclosed consists of a transmission shaft having varied contoured cams aixed thereto adapted to the respective means with which they are associated, said cams being so arranged with respect to one another as to afford proper synchronization of operation of the machine as a unit. Although cam timing control is herein employed, it will be apparent that any means capable of controlling the proper timing relationship of the respective parts of the machine will suffice; and accordingly, the cam control here used should not =be taken as a limitation of structure.

Referring to the drawings for more specic details of the invention, I represents. generally a garter Vspring assembly machine comprising a housing |2, a hopper I4 mounted on the housing, a slotted member |6 adapted to receive the extension coil springs from the hopper one at a time, a clutch mechanism I8 journaled in the housing adjacent one end of the slotted member, and a rotatable head journaled in the housing.

The clutch mechanism |8 constituting an important part of the machine comprises a gear 22 integral therewith and a spring pressed jaw 24 mounted therein adapted to clamp one end of a coil spring 26 to be inserted in a radial slot 28 formed in the clutch.

The spring 26 as illustrated by Figure 6 is closely coiled and comprises a femal end 30 of uniform diameter as the coil 'of the spring and a male end 32 adapted to be received by the female end.

With particular reference to Figure 1, 34 represents a cam shaft adapted to be suitably journaled in housing I2 and having flXedly secured thereto cams 36, 33, 40, 42, and 44. Cam 36 is associated with Spring pressed jaw means 24 through the medium of a roller 46 bearing on the cam 36, lever 48, link 50, and lever 52, said lever being pivoted about a fixed point 54 and having an arm 56 engaging one end 58 of jaw 24. The cam 38 is associated with clutch I3, to provide for the rotation thereof, through a roller 60 bearing on the cam 38, lever 62, link 64, gear 66, and gear 22.

The cam 40 is associated with head 20 through roller 68 bearing on cam 40, lever 10, and link 12 so as to impart oscillation to the head upon rotation of cam shaft 34. Mechanism 14 for picking up and moving the free end of the spring t0 that end of the spring held by the clutch I8 comprises an arm 16 journaled on an upright 18 affixed to head 20 and a cam operated jaw 80 mounted for movement within arm 16.

Cam 42 is associated with mechanism 14 for the purpose of opening and closing jaw by way of roller 82 bearing on cam 42, lever 84, link 86, lever 88, shaftr journaled in bearing housing 92, lever 34, chain 96, lever-98,fshaft |03, lever |02, link |04, and rod |06 connected with the movable portion of the jaw.

The cam 44 operates to rotate arm 16 about its pivot and thus provide for the lateral movement thereof and is coupled thereto through the medium of roller |08 bearing on cam 44, lever IlIl, link |I2, lever ||4, shaft |I6 journaled within shaft 90, lever II8, chain I20, lever |22, and shaft |24 mounted for rotation upon shaft 93 and affixed to arm 16.

InV anormal operation of the machine, with the cam shaft 34 rotating, upon delivery of a spring in its extended length from the hopper I4 and receipt by the slotted member I6, the spring is initially pushed into proper position in the slotted member, one end entering the slot 28 in the clutch I8. During the period of time within which the clutch slot 28 is completely opened the cam 36 is in a position whereby force is transmitted through lever 52 against the end 58 of jaw k24 so as to hold the jaw open. Simultaneously therewith the arm 16 ismoved toward the end of the spring removed from the clutch I8.

synchronously with the releasing of cam actuating pressure upon jaw 24 and the consequent clamping of the spring end within the clutch by the jaw 24, the arm 16 is moved to a position where the arm jaw 80 actuated by motion of cam 42 is opened to receive the other end of the spring. Immediately upon the jaw 38 closing and irmly gripping one end of the spring, the clutch I8 with the other end ofthe spring held therein is rotated through the movement of cam 38 and its associated members. Itis to be cbserved thatit is immaterial. what end of the spring (30 or 32) is held by what jaw (24 or Bil) thereby eliminating any necessity to feed the springs with a specific end to either of the jaws.

Simultaneousliy with the rotation of the clutch (providing for twisting of the end of the spring held thereby) the arm 16 is moved vertically through the medium of cam 44 and its associated members and at the same time is moved laterally by head 20 being rotated through the action of cam 40 and its associated members thereby providing movement of the spring end held by the arm jaw 80 across the other end Vof the spring without interference-therewith. With the arm jaw 80 juxtaposed the clutch I8 and the ends of the spring in close proximity to vone another such that the femaleV end, 30 of the spring receives the male end 32, the clutch rotation is reversed through the motion of cam 38 and its associated members, providing for the ends of the spring being threaded together. Upon completion of this operation, the cam 36 acts through its associated members to release the spring tension of jaw 24 from the clutch; and immediately thereafter as camr44 provides for the upward lateral movement of arm 16, thecam 42 vthrough the medium of its associated members releases the jaw 80 allowing the assembled spring 26', as shown by Figure 7, to fallV free of the machine into a suitable receptacle (not shown). Withthis completion of @ne cycle of operation of the machine, the parts of the machine are in a posiprinciple involved l lutions, and

er v2,400,319

tion to resume further assembly upon continued rotation of the cam shaft. f

While this invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments, the

other applications that will readily occur to persons skilled in the art. The invention is, therefore, limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended claims. Y

What I claim is:

1. A machine, for threading the ends of an eX- tension spring together, comprising; means for twisting one end of the spring, means for holding the other end stationary, and means for positioning the ends in juxtaposed concentric alignment such that upon reverse twisting of the twisted end of the spring the ends are threaded together,

2. A machine, for threading the ends of a closely wound extension coil spring together, the spring having a female end and a male end, said machine comprising; means for clamping and holding one end of the spring stationary, ymeans for clamping and twisting the other end of the spring through a predetermined number of revomeans for bringing the ends of the spring face to face such that the femaleV end of the spring is received by the male end of the spring whereby upon reversetwisting of the twisted end of the spring the ends will be threaded together 3. A machine, for fastening the ends of an extension spring having a female end and a male end together, comprising; a spring delivery means, a rotatable clutch, a laterally and vertically movable arm cooperating with the clutch lin predetermined timed relation having a jaw in the extremity thereof, and means providing for the synchronized operation of the delivery means, the clutch, and the arm.

4. A machine, for fastening the ends of an extension spring having a female end and a male end together, comprising; a delivery means, a rotatable clutch having a spring pressed jaw incorporated therein, a laterally and vertically movable arm cooperating with the clutch in predetermined time relation having a vjaw in the extremity thereof, and means providing for the is susceptible of numerous' laterally and vertically movable means having mechanism incorporated therein for clamping the other end of the spring, and means for synchronously actuating the rst and second means.

8. In a machine for securing the ends of an extension spring together, the spring having a female end and a male end, a spring delivery means, a rotatable clutch having means incorporated therein for firmly holding one end of the spring, a laterally and vertically movable arm having means therein for firmly clamping the other end of the spring, and means providing for the synchronous actuation of the delivery means, rotation of the clutch, and movement of the arm.

9. In a machine for threading the ends of a coil spring together, the spring having an end of equal diameter as the coil and the other end of lesser diameter than the coil, a delivery hopper, means for clamping and twisting one end of the spring, a laterally and vertically movable means having mechanism incorporated therein for clamping and holding the other end of the spring from rotation during the movement of the rst Y means, and means for imparting 'synchronous motion to the delivery hopper and `first and second. means.

l0. A machine,l for joining together the ends y of a spring having a female end and a male end, comprising; a housing, a feed mechanism mounted on the housing, a clutch journaled in the housing having a spring pressed jaw incorporated therein, an arm pivotedon a member rotatable on the housing, said arm being laterally and vertically movable relative to the housingY f and having jaw means incorporated therein, and means 'for synchronously actuating the feed synchronized operation of the delivery means,

the clutch, and the arm.

5. A machine, for fastening the ends of an extension spring having a female end and a male end together, comprising; a delivery means, a rotatable clutch, a movable arm having means incorporatedl therein cooperating with the rotatable clutch providing for the assembly of the spring, and means providing for the synchronized operation of the delivery means, the clutch, and the arm.

6. A machine, for threading the ends of a-coil spring together, the spring having a female endv and a male end, comprising; means for clamping and twisting one end of the spring, movable means having mechanism incorporated therein for clamping the other end of the spring, and means for synchronously actuating the rst and second means.

7.' A machine, for threadingV the ends of a spring together, said spring having a female end and a male end, comprising; rotatable means for clamping and twisting l one end of the spring,

mechanism, rotating the clutch, actuating the jaw in the clutch, actuating the arm, and actuating the jaw in the arm. l

11. A machine, for threading together the ends of a coil spring having a female end and a male end, comprising; a delivery hopper, a rotatable clutch having means incorporated therein for receiving one end of a spring delivered from the hopper and clamping it therein, a shiftable arm having means incorporated therein for grasping and holding the other end of the spring from rotation during yrotation of the clutch and mechanism providing for synchronized actuation of the hopper, clutch, arm, and the means incorporated in the clutch and arms,

12. A machine, for assembling garter springs comprising means for clamping one end of the4 spring, means for twisting the other end of the spring, and means for bringing the ends of the spring together whereby upon reverse twisting of the twisted end of the spring the ends are threaded together.

13. A machine for joining together the ends of a coil spring comprising means for clamping one end of the spring, rotatable means for clamping the other end of the spring, and means for bringing the ends of the spring together, said rotatable means operating to twist one end of the spring during one phase of operation and untwisting the spring during another phase of operation so as to effectively join the ends of together.

CHARLES TALLION. 

